Local utes star in crash test

THE Australian-built Holden Ute and Ford Falcon utility are the first local cars to achieve four star ratings for occupant protection in frontal and side impact crash testing.

These were the standout results in the latest round of independent Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) crash tests, which also handed out three star ratings to the imported Holden Rodeo, Toyota HiLux and Ford Courier/Mazda Bravo twins.

The Commodore-based VUII Holden Ute and AUII Falcon were tested with driver airbags, while the others were tested without, because they were optional fittings, or in the case of the Bravo, not available.

The Holden Ute and Falcon utility actually outpointed their sedan bretheren, which in the last round of ANCAP testing scored three stars.

RACV chief engineer, Michael Case, said the results are a vast improvement over utility tests conducted in 1995.

"The results of the 1995 crash testing by ANCAP showed that drivers of 1995 utilities had, on average, a 94 per cent chance of sustaining a life threatening head injury in a frontal crash," Mr Case explained.

"The latest 2002 ANCAP test results show that for 2002 model utilities without driver's airbags, the likelihood of the driver sustaining a life threatening head injury in a frontal crash is now an average of 26 per cent.

"For those 2002 model utilities fitted with a driver airbag, the likelihood of sustaining a life threatening injury in a frontal crash was down to a low average of 1.5 per cent.

There are two tests performed on each model for rating purposes an offset frontal test where the car is driven into a crushable barrier at 64km/h, which makes contact with 40 per cent of the front of the car and a side impact test, which involves running a 950kg trolley into the driver's side of the vehicle at 50km/h.

Mr Case said all utilities performed relatively well in the side impact tests, with those results contributing significantly to the overall occupant protection ratings.

ANCAP testing is conducted by a consortium of motoring associations and state and federal government bodies.

Results Holden Ute with driver airbag - Four stars
Ford Falcon utility with driver airbag - Four stars
Toyota Hilux 2wd without optional airbag - Three stars
Holden Rodeo 2wd without optional airbag - Three stars
Mazda Bravo/Ford Courier without airbag - Three stars